Female African Heads of State You May Not Know

Catherine Samba-Panza-Central African Republic

Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1956) was interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as well as the eighth woman in Africa to do so. Prior to becoming head of state, she was Mayor of Bangui from 2013 to 2014.

Joyce Hilda Banda-Malawi

Joyce Hilda Banda (née Mtila; born 12 April 1949) is a Malawian politician who was the President of Malawi from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. She is the founder and leader of the People’s Party, created in 2011. An educator and grassroots women’s rights activist, she was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Vice-President of Malawi from May 2009 to April 2012. Banda took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She was Malawi’s fourth president and its first female president. Before becoming president, she served as the country’s first female vice-president

Luísa Dias Diogo-Mozambique

Luísa Dias Diogo (born 11 April 1958) was Prime Minister of Mozambique from February 2004 to January 2010. She replaced Pascoal Mocumbi, who had been Prime Minister for the previous nine years. Before becoming Prime Minister, she was Minister of Planning and Finance, and she continued to hold that post until February 2005. She was the first female Prime Minister of Mozambique. Diogo represents the party FRELIMO, which has ruled the country since independence in 1975

Agathe Uwilingiyimana- Rwanda

Agathe Uwilingiyimana born 23 May 1953, died 7 April 1994, sometimes known as Madame Agathe, was a Rwandan political figure. She served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 18 July 1993 until her assassination on 7 April 1994, during the opening stages of the Rwandan genocide. She was Rwanda’s first and so far only female prime minister.

Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé-Mali

Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé (born 4 January 1948) was the Prime Minister of Mali from 2011 to 2012, the first woman to be appointed to the position in the country’s history. She was announced to the position by decree on 3 April 2011, replacing Modibo Sidibé. On 22 March 2012, following the suspension of the constitution in the 2012 Malian coup d’état, she was removed from office and reported to be detained by junta forces.